[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The older I get the more seasons in all sports look more like random chance for 65% of the teams.

You have elite teams that are bound to be good. You have terrible teams that are destined for misery.

Then you have this middle 2/3 that just have stuff happen.

For years the Flames went from offensive dynamos to meek offence to dynamos to meek. It was bizarre.

So with the right coach in place finally, I wouldn't be shocked to have a more work than expected this season and surprise. This isn't a contending hockey team, but they were better than their record last season showed. Losing Giordano hurts, but I temper that with the fact that Giordano is bound to decline at some point, and it could have easily been this season.

I think the team as it stands has a top line again, and hopefully Monahan bounces back and we see progression from Dube and Mangiapane and some help from Coleman.

On the blueline it's all down to Andersson and Valimaki to get better, and Tanev and Hanifin to hold serve.

Lots of iffs for sure, but with Sutter coaching a tight system if this team is what it is (still not sold that's the case) they're not going to be as bad as people think.

I agree with this, Sutter will squeeze a lot out of this team in a full season. They will probably make the playoffs.

However, I have my doubts that if the core forwards stay the same, the same guys that haven't been able to do so in the past, will now have the ability to raise their level and take over games in the playoffs.